INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Schedule of income tax expense (benefit)

Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following:



	Federal			State			Total
2015
Current	$	9,591		$	1,706		$	11,297
Deferred	15,374			(1,382		)	13,992
Total	$	24,965		$	324		$	25,289
2014
Current	$	(16,509	)	$	(1,852	)	$	(18,361	)
Deferred	44,730			1,603			46,333
Total	$	28,221		$	(249	)	$	27,972
2013
Current	$	7,974		$	(2,867	)	$	5,107
Deferred	15,667			(305		)	15,362
Total	$	23,641		$	(3,172	)	$	20,469

Schedule of difference between the total income tax expense and computed tax expense

The difference between the total income tax expense and computed tax expense was reconciled in the table below:



	2015			2014			2013
Computed "expected" tax expense	$	24,607		$	29,649		$	23,708
Increase (reduction) in taxes due to:
State income taxes net of federal tax benefit	4,043			4,871			3,895
Effect of regulatory treatment of fixed asset differences	(3,450		)	(5,541		)	(4,112		)
State tax credits	—			—			(2,465		)
Investment tax credits	(74		)	(74		)	(74		)
Other	163			(933		)	(483		)
Total income tax	$	25,289		$	27,972		$	20,469

Schedule of tax effects of differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities

The tax effects of differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are presented in the following table:



	2015		2014
Deferred tax assets:
Developer deposits for extension agreements and contributions in aid of construction	$	45,670	$	44,775
Net operating loss carryforward and tax credits	15,042		19,866
Other	11,263		8,904
Total deferred tax assets	71,975		73,545
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property related basis and depreciation differences	309,088		272,958
WRAM/MCBA and interim rates balancing accounts	23,894		30,871
Other	3,890		4,308
Total deferred tax liabilities	336,872		308,137
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	264,897	$	234,592

Schedule of reconciliation of changes in unrecognized tax benefits

The following table reconciles the changes in unrecognized tax benefits:



	December 31, 2015		December 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
Balance at beginning of year	$	7,916	$	612	$	—
Additions for tax positions taken during prior year	—		—		—
Additions for tax positions taken during current year	2,382		7,304		612
Reductions for tax positions taken during a prior year	—		—		—
Lapse of statute of limitations	—		—		—
Balance at end of year	$	10,298	$	7,916	$	612